How much does an IEP advocate cost?

Most advocates on our directory charge between $75 and $150 per hour. When you work with our in-house team, the standard rate is $100 per hour. Qualifying families can access Families First pricing at $75 per hour. You pay only for the hours you use. There are no retainers and no long-term contracts.

Every family can start with a free 30-minute consultation to talk through your situation and get honest guidance on next steps. New families who sign up for advocacy can also receive a free IEP file review and written summary, a service that typically costs about $200.

Yes. Our Families First rate is $75 per hour instead of $100. It is for families who may qualify based on income or programs like SNAP, WIC, or free and reduced-price lunch. Mention it on your free consultation call and we will walk you through whether it fits your situation. See eligibility terms.

Yes. Many families spread cost across payment milestones instead of paying everything upfront. After your free consultation, we outline the expected hours and total, then agree on a schedule that works for your budget before any billable work begins.

No. Medicaid and most insurance plans do not cover private parent advocates. Medicaid may fund certain services for your child through the school system, but hiring your own advocate is a private, out-of-pocket expense for most families.

The hourly rate covers real advocate time: reviewing records, emails and calls with you, meeting prep, coaching before a meeting, and attending meetings with you or on your behalf. Your advocate will estimate hours upfront so you know what to expect before work starts.

Many families budget $200 to $500 for a standard IEP cycle. A common example is 2 hours of prep plus 2 hours at the meeting at $100 per hour, which totals $400. Complex cases, facilitated IEPs, or complaints often need more hours. Use the cost calculator above to model your scenario.

No. We do not require retainers, monthly minimums, or multi-month contracts. You can hire an advocate for a single meeting, a few hours of coaching, or ongoing support. You stay in control of how much help you buy.

After your free consultation, you receive a simple agreement with the scope, hourly rate, and estimated total. We accept credit cards, bank transfer, and checks. For larger cases, we can split payment across milestones tied to stages of work rather than one lump sum.

Your advocate will tell you as soon as it looks like more time is needed, explain why, and get your approval before doing additional work. We do not bill extra hours without your sign-off, so you are never surprised by the final total.